Intracystic radiotherapy (90Y) of craniopharyngiomas: CT-guided stereotaxic implantation of indwelling drainage system.

Abstract

An indwelling drainage system for percutaneous drainage and radiotherapy of cystic craniopharyngiomas is described. The catheter is implanted into the cyst stereotaxically with a computed tomography-guided targeting device and connected to a Rickham reservoir. In addition to the repeated percutaneous evacuation of the cysts, this closed system enables intracavitary radiotherapy (yttrium-90) without the risk of leakage of the radioactive material into the cerebrospinal fluid spaces. The technique and relevant literature are discussed, and three typical cases are described.